He’s charged with a two-decade-old murder.
Frederick, Md (KM). The trial of Lloyd Harris continued on Wednesday in Frederick County Circuit Court. Harris, 53, is charged with 1st-degree murder, 1st-degree rape and 3rd-degree sex offense for the murder of Stacy Lynn Hoffmaster. The 15-year-old girl was reported missing in October, 1996. She was found in December of that year in a wooded area along East South Street and I-70. Police say she had been strangled.
Harris was arrested last year in Kansas City, Missouri and charged with Stacy’s slaying.
State’s Attorney Charlie Smith says on Wednesday, retired Detectives Ed Kornacki and Jeff Hutchison, who worked on the case, testified on Wednesday. “One of the key pieces of evidence came in the form of a statement made by the defendant when Mr. Harris was confronted by the detective with DNA evidence. The defendant, Mr.Harris, finally admitted ‘you got me to admit I had sex with her,'” says Smith.
“I felt like that was obviously a key statement and critical in proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at this point,” Smith continues.
He says the cross examination of the two detective took up a lot of time, but Smith says he still expects the State to take a week and a half to complete its presentation.
On Thursday, it’s “pretty much DNA evidence for the vast majority of the day,” says Smith. “We also have after that the Medical Examiner’s testimony as well as Detective Garcia who re-interviewed the defendant and took a video statement in 2016.”
After the prosecution rests its case, the defense will get its chance to make its case. Smith says it’s unknown if Harris will testify. The defendant in a criminal trial has the right not to testify in court.
Circuit Court Judge William Nicklas is the presiding judge in this trial.
By Kevin McManus